Finding the Few: No Known Grave (Dibden Purlieu)

This talk by Andy Saunders focusses on the story of Sgt ‘Paddy’ Adair of 213 Squadron, RAF Tangmere, who was shot down and killed over Hampshire on 6 November 1940 when his Hurricane crashed on the downs at Widley. He was posted as ‘missing in action’. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the CWGC memorial at Runnymede to ‘missing’ RAF aircrew who were lost over NW Europe during the Second World War.

The talk charts the extraordinary story of the disappearance of Sgt Adair in 1940, the recovery of wreckage from his Hurricane in 1979 (including the discovery of human remains) and will explore why Sgt Adair is still listed as missing – despite that discovery!The wider story of missing RAF aircrew will also be covered, as will the story of the Runnymede Memorial, the recovery of missing aircrew (including the conflicting policies of the British and US governments in this respect) and will also touch upon the ‘official’ dates of the Battle of Britain.

Note: Copies of Andy’s book ‘Finding the Few’ will also be available for a heavily discounted price at the talk.

Andy Saunders is a military historian and author, founder and first curator of Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, former editor of ‘Britain at War’ magazine, founding editor of the German military history magazine ‘Iron Cross’, a regular contributor to military history magazines and TV documentaries worldwide and a frequent feature writer for daily newspapers in the UK. He is currently editing a major update of the iconic 1980 title ‘Battle of Britain Then & Now’.